Burkina Faso: Dengue Outbreak - Sep 2017

Following an outbreak in late 2016, Burkina Faso experienced sporadic cases of dengue fever at the beginning of the year until week 10 of 2017, when cases eventually ceased. However, from week 31 (week ending 6 August 2017), there has been a dramatic increase in the incidence of dengue fever in the country, especially around the districts of Ouagadougou, the capital city. On 28 September 2017, the Ministry of Health formally declared the outbreak. During week 40 (week ending 8 October 2017), 525 suspected cases including two deaths (case fatality rate 0.4%) were reported. Of these, 329 cases were classified as probable. The majority of the new suspected cases were from Bogodogo (276) and Nogr-massom (115) districts, respectively (WHO, 13 Oct 2017)

The incidence of dengue fever in Burkina Faso continues to increase exponentially, particularly in the Central Region of the country, around the capital city, Ougadougou. During week 43 (week ending 29 October 2017), a total of 2,566 new suspected cases and two deaths (case fatality rate 0.1%) were reported in the country, compared with 2,232 cases with two deaths reported in week 42. Fifty-five percent (1,417) of the new suspected cases and the two deaths were from the Central Region, with an attack rate of 52 cases per 100,000 population. (WHO, 3 Nov 2017)

In week 46 (week ending 19 November 2017), 971 new suspected dengue fever cases (with no deaths) have been reported, compared to 1 502 cases reported in week 45. During the reporting week, the attack rate in the Central Region fell from 35 cases per 100 000 people in week 45 to 22 cases per 100 000 people (in week 46) – a 50% reduction. Meanwhile, the attack rate for the whole country reduced from eight cases per 100 000 people in week 45 to 5 cases per 100 000 people in week 46. (WHO, 1 Dec 2017)

Weekly case counts have decreased since week 44. The majority (62%) of cases have been reported in the central region, notably in Ouagadougou (the capital). Dengue virus serotypes 1, 2, and 3 are circulating, with serotype 2 predominating (72%). (WHO, 9 Feb 2018)